Ottey-Urban Concert and Race

Michelle's Story

My father, Seneca White Ottey, was diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer in August 2010 and given 9-12 months to live.  What made it so surprising was that he was very healthy; his only symptoms were occasional hiccupping and burping after eating.  At his annual exam, he mentioned these symptoms to his physician, who then ordered an endoscopy.  The test located a 3 cm tumor on his lower esophagus and lymph node involvement.

Princeton Radiology in NJ and Fox Chase Cancer Center in PA coordinated care, which consisted of 25 radiation treatments, which he tolerated very well, followed by chemotherapy (both infusion and oral tablets) from January to May 13^th, 2011.  He experienced neuropathy in his hands and feet, as well as low white blood cell counts, as side effects of the chemo drugs.  In June 2011, test results showed the tumor had shrunk to about 2 cm and there was no cancer in any other areas!  The treatments were working and we were all very hopeful. Seneca was considering surgery to remove what was left of the tumor.

Gary Orr takes on Lake Placid, NY Ironman

Gary Orr is a two year survivor of Stage lV Esophageal  Cancer and wants to help bring awareness of this disease and hopefully raise money to support a research project that will lead to an early detection of this disease.

Gary's story begins when as a youngster he became interested in swimming and found himself swimming 11 months out of the year. He continued with swimming and ultimately getting a scholarship to a Division 1 College. Realizing the politics that go along with a Division one school he decided to return home and go to Ramapo College where he was a leader on the swim team.  He set many records some of which still stand today and won the 1650 Metropolitan Conference Championship by two-tenths of a second.

Host a Fund Raising Event

The Foundation has developed a unique approach called our Family Awareness Program in accomplishing our awareness and education of this disease goal and allowing people to make donations that will enable the Foundation to continue its fight against this dreaded disease. If you would like to be a part of this unique Program please give Bart Frazzitta a call at 732-446-8520. Help us fight this disease and strive for an early detection of this disease.

The Foundation receives requests from families who have lost a loved one to this disease that they want to help spread the word that this disease exists and hopefully through their intervention one of their family members or friends may go to a doctor and get examined and hopefully prevent this disease from claiming another loved one. Early detection of this disease in most cases, will lead to a full recovery and that is one way to fight this disease.

9th Annual Day at The Races 6/3/2012

We have established June 3^rd 2012 as our 9^th Annual Day at the Races to support research projects that will lead to an early detection of esophageal cancer. As always this year’s event will be help at Monmouth Race Track in Oceanport New Jersey. The ticket to the event will include admission to the park, a race day program, and a picnic lunch with all the fixings and beer and soda. We will also give a T shirt to all those who buy a ticket at the price of $65.00 a ticket. The day’s activities begin at 12 noon.

 We will have an assigned Picnic Area alongside the track so people can actually come within 20 yards of the horses running for the finish line during each race.